Leeds ex-consultant says public in dark about NHS staffing issues

A former consultant cardiologist whose operation was postponed has urged hospitals to be more transparent about the impact of rising Covid cases.

 

Dr Alan Mackintosh was scheduled to have his prostate removed, but was told the last-minute cancellation was needed as staff were anticipating an influx of Covid patients.

 

St James’s University Hospital in Leeds said it was working to reschedule his appointment.

 

Dr Mackintosh, who worked as a consultant at the Yorkshire Heart Centre at Leeds General Infirmary until 2008, was due to undergo surgery last Saturday, but was informed the day before that the operation had been postponed.

 

Dr Mackintosh said “People talk about the health service being overwhelmed, but the health service will never collapse.  What it will do is it will get progressively worse, with operations being postponed, healthcare being reduced in a number of ways.

 

“I am aware that it is going to be affecting hundreds of people, so this needs to be generally recognised and incorporated in whatever way is necessary.

 

“This message that Covid is over and we can all relax a bit may be true in London, but it is not the case in Yorkshire.  There seems to be some way to go yet and I think it is going to get worse before it gets better.”

 

Dr Phil Wood, chief medical officer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said “Due to the challenging operational pressures caused by a substantial increase in inpatients with Covid-19, staff isolating and demand for urgent care, we have moved some planned elective operations this week to ensure patients who require urgent treatment are prioritised.

 

“We are working to reschedule operations as soon as we can.

 

“We understand this is worrying and want to assure our patients that we are constantly reviewing the situation as part of our commitment to achieving timely and safe care for everyone.”

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

 

Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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